Just surfacing after a week meandering between Cardiff, Salisbury and Minehead. Saw a Justin Hayward concert in Cardiff. He joined the Moody Blues, and is still with them when they do their occasional tours, in 1966 a year before Somerset's first Lord's Final.

Somerset came third in the Championship in 1966 and England won the world Cup at Wembley. Five of the top eight Counties in the Championship that year did not play at Test Grounds nor have they acquired that status since. Different world. Same songs.

However I digress, if it is possible to digress before you have started.

The main purpose of this post is to thank Grockle.

Firstly for listing me with the team and other Club staff at the head of this thread although since I do not score a run, take a wicket, hold a catch or do anything to coach or support those that do I am not sure I quite warrant being in that batting order.

Above all I would like to thank Grockle for the constant unseen work he must do to maintain this site. I have no idea what it entails for I am not technically minded but I do know from someonre who once had a cricket blog that being responsible for anything like this involves continuous effort month in month out. Without that work my posts would never have been written.

Thanks to Wickham too for his very kind words, to Shepton for echoing them but in truth I only reflect my impression of what I see and hear. What takes the time and delays the posts more than I would like is finding the right words and getting them in the right order. I really should sign them off 'Farmer White and the Thesaurus'.

Perhaps next year, for already as I sit here behind glass bathed in the warmth of the October sun pouring over the Blackdowns I am thinking June in the Trescothick Stand.

Because of the deafening silence by the ECB on the problems caused mainly by 25% of division one teams being relegated at the end of each season, many of us believe there will be some sort of change in the structure of the two divisions next season to keep Middlesex in division one thus keeping the people happy who are causing all the fuss since the season ended.

As a newcomer to this site in terms of posts, although having followed it for quite a time, it is impressive in terms of debate, argument, general cricket knowledge and specific Somerset CCC knowledge. So well done to all those who contribute and obviously Grockle who does an enormous amount of work to keep it so good. Having seen all home Championship matches except Essex and Middlesex, being in Oz both times and a couple of away matches means the site has been a good way to keep up with stuff.
Farmer White, your daily reports deserve a wider audience, they are excellent, both informative and amusing. Many thanks.

Farmer White

If you like Justin Hayward, FW, then he is appearing in Sydney on the 18th or 19th of October I noticed today when walking through Sydney. You might need to meander a bit further afield to do that though! Having spent my childhood in the centre of the Blackdowns where you are now I’ve certainly meandered! Have a good winter!

The quality looks after itself and the odd bitteŕ old lag who thinks you have to watch for over half a century before you appreciate the true failures of SCCC are no real opposition for the people who understand change and the demands of the game in the 2ist century.

No Bobstan, no Kew Gardens but the ones that immediately spring to mind are 'From Clare to Here', 'Around the Wild Cape Horn', 'The Setting', 'Bentley and Craig', 'Streets of London' of course and that amazing piece of ragtime. The ninety minute set was over in the blink of an eye.

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